Lori Payne/Christ Follower/Wife/Mom/Recovering Alcoholic

I was having one of those days of complete anger and frustration. I couldn’t seem to get a person to see my side of an argument, or really my side of anything. I could feel the resentment building, and getting stronger.

Ephesians 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ forgave you.

I went to the Lord with my complaint, “Lord how do I handle someone like this?” My first thought, before I listen for his response, Andy Stanley! He always has great sermons on how to handle difficulty. Then I hear the voice

Not Andy Stanley

“Then where do I go Lord?”

Go to my word

Ok God, well that makes sense, but where do I start? What do I Google? This problem has so many elements, where do I start?

And the voice says….

Love, you search for Love
Then the tears started and I opened my Bible, and used my Ipad to Google

What Does the Bible Say About Unconditional Love

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 1 John 4:18

But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you Luke 6:27

The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:5

And then the one that spoke to me the loudest…….

If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

Wow no wonder words spoken in anger are never heard correctly, or said how I intended. They are a noisy gong or clanging cymbal, they are an anoyance, not a solution. I heard it said “Speak the truth with kindness” or “Speak the truth with love.”

No matter where I wanted to go with this, whatever blame game I wanted to play, God took me back to Love.1